Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has warned Newcastle they would have to start again if they sold star striker Alexander Isak this summer.

The 24-year-old Sweden international, the Magpies’ £63million record signing, has been linked with both Arsenal and Tottenham in recent weeks amid the perception that the Saudi-backed club may have to trade to comply with profit and sustainability rules.

Isak enhanced his blossoming reputation further with a superb double in a 4-0 Premier League victory over Champions League-chasing Spurs at St James’ Park on Saturday to take his tally for an injury-interrupted season to 21.

Asked about the need to retain his services, head coach Howe said: “We are trying to build a team, we are trying to grow everything, really, upwards and to do that as quickly as possible and as efficiently as you can, you need to keep your best players, otherwise you enter a different period where you go into transition and you have to start again.

“Your top players, the elite ones, are so difficult to recruit, they’re so difficult to find, so when we get them, we’ve got to try to keep them.”

Isak left Micky van de Ven sitting on his backside to open the scoring on the half-hour and when Anthony Gordon did the same two minutes later, the visitors were in trouble.

Isak’s equally accomplished 51st-minute finish put the result beyond doubt and Fabian Schar added the flourish at the death with a thumping header on a day when the Magpies’ game-plan worked to perfection.

For long periods, they were content to allow Spurs possession – they had just a 27 per cent share – and back themselves both to deny them clear-cut chances and to hit them on the break, and Howe could not have asked his players to execute his instructions any more comprehensively.

Asked how good Isak could be, Howe said: “For me, he’s so exciting to work with, he’s got so many facets to his game we can explore and try to make better.

“First and foremost, he has the undeniable quality that he wants to score, he needs to score – that’s a great characteristic for any striker to have.

“But he also plays for the team, he doesn’t play for himself, which is rare. You can see him linking play and doing things that the team needs, not just what he needs. I thought it was a great performance from him today.”

It proved a testing day for Ange Postecoglou’s men, who were trounced 6-1 in the corresponding fixture last season before his arrival, although the Australian played down the significance of that result.

Postecoglou said: “I think there are other explanations beyond that as to why we didn’t perform. Some of it is down to the opposition, some of it is just down to us.

“We didn’t really get a control of the game, like we have been, and we paid a price for that.”

Home
/
Manchester United
Why Antony has been left out of Man Utd's squad to face Bournemouth
Man Utd face Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening
Antony omitted from matchday squad
£82m winger's absence explained

By Sean Walsh
Apr 13, 2024
Antony has not made the matchday squad
Antony has not made the matchday squad / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
Antony has been omitted from Manchester United's matchday squad to face Bournemouth due to injury.

The Red Devils take on the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium in Saturday's late Premier League kick-off, but will have to get by without the £82m winger.

United have confirmed Antony will sit out the trip to the south coast having sustained a fresh injury - the 57th different case of injury or illness to rule a United player out of a match this season.

Antony last started for United in their 4-3 loss at Chelsea at the start of April, playing over 100 minutes on the night. He was then dropped to the bench for their 2-2 draw against Liverpool having been deemed unfit to play from the off, and now he has missed out on making the squad altogether.

Antony
Antony misses out / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
The 24-year-old has been heavily criticised for his performances so far this season, registering only one assist and not a single goal in the Premier League to this point.

In better news for United, Alejandro Garnacho is starting his 30th successive game for the club. The Argentina international has been one of Erik ten Hag's standout players this term and amid United's injury crisis has managed to stay fit all season long.

Willy Kambwala will also keep his place at centre-back following his fine performance against Liverpool last Sunday.

United are looking to avenge a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford back in December.

Man Utd XI to face Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Kambwala, Maguire, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
•
Erik ten Hag storms out of press conference after Man Utd's draw at Bournemouth
•
X reacts to Man Utd's uninspiring 2-2 draw at Bournemouth
•
Bournemouth 2-2 Man Utd: Player ratings as Fernandes brace rescues point for Red Devils
•
Premier League manager explains similarities between Man Utd & Real Madrid
Related Topics
Antony
Premier League
Manchester United FC
Liverpool FC
Chelsea FC
Erik ten Hag
Transfers
Casemiro

Raphael Guerreiro and Thomas Muller score for Bayern in victory over Koln

A superb second-half strike by Raphael Guerreiro helped Bayern Munich to a 2-0 win against Koln and keep the champagne on ice in Leverkusen.

Defeat for Thomas Tuchel’s side would have confirmed Bayer Leverkusen as Bundesliga champions but the current holders claimed a hard-fought victory.

It had been a difficult period for Bayern, who had lost both league fixtures since the international break, but they battled to a 2-2 draw at Arsenal on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

While Bayern’s focus was on more European glory this season, they were determined to return to winning ways domestically and they hit the post twice in the first half, once through Harry Kane.

Kane was unable to add to his tally, but the hosts were eventually indebted to Guerreiro’s outstanding 65th-minute effort before Thomas Muller added a late second to ensure all eyes are now on Leverkusen to see if they can clinch the title with victory at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Tuchel made a raft of changes, with Bayern’s priority being next week’s tie with Arsenal.

Manuel Neuer and Leroy Sane were not in the squad but Kane did start and helped Munich dominate possession in the opening exchanges.

The first clear-cut chance when to Koln but fortunately for Bayern, Faride Alidou fired wide from a tight angle.

It was a sign of things to come, though, as Sven Ulreich, recalled for the rested Neuer, produced a superb save to keep the score goalless when he clawed away a header by Sargis Adamyan midway through the half.

Bayern had yet to seriously test Koln goalkeeper Marvin Schwabe until he denied Guerreiro on the half-hour mark following an excellent ball by Kane.

Slowly Kane’s influence was beginning to grow and he hit a post shortly afterwards when Muller flicked the ball through to the England captain, but his low effort smashed against the woodwork.

Further chances went Kane’s way but he drilled one effort wide before diverting another header off target.

Koln responded well and should have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Maz Finkgrafe produced another excellent ball into the area, but Alidou could only head wide.

An action-packed first 45 at Allianz Arena concluded with a Mathys Tel curler striking a post to ensure it stayed level at the break.

Bayern were dealt a blow early in the second half when Kingsley Coman went off to make him an immediate doubt for the midweek visit of Arsenal.

Jamal Musiala replaced Coman and his first involvement almost resulted in the breakthrough, but he fired over.

The pressure continued and Tel’s forced Schwabe into an excellent diving save soon after before the opener did arrive in the 65th minute.

A short corner by Joshua Kimmich found Guerreiro who let fly from 25 yards and watched his dipping left-footed effort nestle into the corner.

There was a sense of relief around the stadium, but Koln were not about to roll over and Ulreich had to save a long-range effort from substitute Benno Schmitz.

Better was to follow when Ulreich thwarted Steffen Tigges from close range after a poor pass by Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano, before the hosts did seal the points when Muller slotted home deep into stoppage time.